Psychiatric Problems in Pulmonary Tuberculosis: Depression and Anxiety

Depression, anxiety and tuberculosis are common conditions with significant public health implications. The connection among these conditions is syndemic: the incidence of one increases the chance of developing the other, with clusters of biological, social and psychological interaction. Therefore, it has become crucial to understand better the mechanisms liable for the physiological process related to these three conditions. The present review focuses specifically on shared social events (perception of illness severity, social stigma, poverty and social isolation) and biological pathways (central response of the immune system within the CNS, the activation of the HPA axis and the SNS) that may mechanistically elucidate the depression-anxiety-tuberculosis association and discuss interventions prospects and significant issues to be arranged by future clinical and research implications.

Effect of Nicotine on Dopamine and Glutathione Levels in Presence of Oligoelements in Brain Regions of Young Rats——Effect of Nicotine on Brain Regions of Rat

Aim: The purpose of this study was to understand the mechanism of nicotine mediated addiction and the role of oligoelements in reducing its effect. Methods: Male Wistar rats (weight 80 g) were treated with single and repeated doses of nicotine and/or oligoelements as follows: group 1 (control) NaCl 0.9%;group 2, nicotine (1 mg/kg);group 3, oligoelements (50 μl/rat);and group 4, nicotine (1 mg/kg) + oligoelements (50 μl/rat). All drugs were intraperitoneally administered for 4 days. Blood for the measurement of glucose was obtained from all the animals. Samples of the brain regions (cortex, hemispheres and cerebellum + medulla oblongata) of each rat were obtained and used to measure the concentrations of dopamine, GSH levels, and lipid peroxidation (TBARS) using fluorescence and spectrophotometric methods. Results: Glucose level increased in rats treated with nicotine and oligoelements (p < 0.05), while GSH level decreased in cerebellum/medulla oblongata and hemispheres (p < 0.05) of the same animals. TBARS levels increased in cerebellum/medulla oblongata and hemispheres of animals treated with nicotine and oligoelements, but decreased in the same regions (p < 0.05) in rats treated only with oligoelements. The levels of dopamine decreased in cortex and hemispheres, but increased in cerebellum/medulla and oblongata regions of rats treated with both compounds (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Nicotine and oligoelements are associated with increase in the level of glucose, an effect that was more pronounced in the group treated with both drugs. Reduction of oxidative stress and dopamine metabolism may be involved in this effect.